Phenotypic Characterization and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Coagulase Positive Staphylococci from The External Surfaces of Hospital Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)

Abstract

A study to phenotypically characterize and determine the antibiogram of coagulase positive Staphylococci (CoPS) from the 
external surfaces of hospital cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) was conducted using standard microbiological methods. Out 
of the 50 cockroaches collected from various hospitals in Uyo, sixty-two percent (n = 31) had coagulase positive Staphylococci 
which consisted of Staphylococcus aureus (44.0 %; n = 22) and Staphylococcus intermedius (18.0 %; n = 9). The CoPS isolates 
showed 100% resistance to Penicillin, Tetracycline, Clindamycin and 80.6% sensitivity to Amoxicillin-clavulanate. The CoPS 
showed multiple antibiotic resistances to ≥ 3 antibiotics, with 60 % exhibiting resistance to 6 antibiotics. Out of the 80 % (n = 
31) of the multidrug resistant CoPS that were sensitive to Amoxicillin-clavulanate, none of them showed production of beta 
lactamase. The cockroaches bore multiple antibiotic resistant CoPS on their external surfaces and their contact can initiate 
contamination of patients’ food. Pest control measures in hospital are hereby recommended to minimize cockroach related 
infections.